Whatever your tastes and quirks, there is something to stimulate everyone’s desires in London. From art-deco swimming spots and warm oil play parties to naked men reciting stories and practicing yoga, this city is truly a treat for the senses. So leave your inhibitions at home and venture out with your favourite partners (or even by yourself) to try some of these sexy things to do in London.
Please note: as some of the events and venues below are NSFW, I have linked to their Instagram instead of their website where possible.
📷 above image from club night Lick. CREDIT: Chanel Moye
Sexy swimming spots
There’s something quite thrilling about going for a dip outside in London (when the weather allows for it), especially when you can share it with someone you fancy. The swimming ponds on Hampstead Heath are the classic option, with a separate pond for men and women as well as a mixed one. If ponds are a little too natural for you, try a beautiful lido (open-air pool), such as the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park or the one in Brockwell Park, whose stylish café makes it an exceptionally good day date idea.
If it’s not the weather for swimming outside, try one of London’s gorgeously grand pools. The jaw-droppingly gorgeous Repton Park requires a little trip out to the borough of Redbridge, but it’s worth it when you discover that you’re swimming in a converted church that still retains its confessional boxes (for relieving sins, obviously). Closer to central London, try the picturesque art deco pools at The Porchester Centre in Bayswater and the Marshall Street Leisure Centre near Carnaby Street.
Sexy clubs
One of the steamiest club nights in London is just for women. If you haven’t experienced Lick yet, then you are seriously missing out. The monthly grime/RnB/bashment party has a seriously sexy vibe. Bouncing between different venues, from the Electric in Brixton to Earth in Dalston, they occasionally do a strip club night that will have you breathlessly biting your bottom lip all night.
Speaking of strippers, Harpies is the new Friday night feature at East London’s pole mansion, Metropolis. The LGBT+ performers are predominantly trans and non-binary, with the scene’s hottest queer DJs spinning house and disco tunes on this night that puts the club into strip club.
Like a slice of sexy performance with your clubbing experience? Catch some of the Harpies’ beauties heating up the stage with cabaret shows at Woof while Pxssy Liquor serves up grrl-power queer disco with a side of deviant show treats. Hungry for curves? Check out Thicc, which mixes body positivity with drool-worthy jiggles at Limehouse’s historic gay bar, The White Swan.
Sexy museums
Could prowling around some of London’s incredible museums and galleries be this city’s sexiest dates? Walking slowly together, leaning in close, whispering conversations about pretentious things like composition and thematic resonance is a delicious way to spend an afternoon, says Zane. Try an afternoon saunter through White Cube‘s Bermondsey gallery or a Friday late at the Tate Modern or National Portrait Gallery. Speaking of lates, the John Soane’s Museum opens after dark once a month with only candles to atmospherically showcase their collection of sculptures and paintings.
The British Museum‘s hidden Secretum once contained all the most obscene pieces (by 19th century standards) in its collection – but thankfully, they are now on display for everyone. The British Library still has its Private Case, packed with vintage erotica, which is available for viewing in the Rare Books & Manuscripts Reading Room (but only with curatorial permission). For a museum date with a difference, Ruby recommends the Hunterian Museum, which has the world’s largest anatomical-pathological collection for surgeons. If pickled rectums are your thing, then you will love this place.
Sexy bars
Anywhere you turn in London, there’s a sexy basement bar lurking beneath the streets – speakeasies with dark corners perfect for intimate conversations. The award-winning Happiness Forgets on Hoxton Square is the perfect example of this, with its low lighting, intimate seating and seductively strong cocktails. My tipple of choice? Their Flaneur mixes vodka with Plymouth sloe gin and serves it shaken with fresh lime and vanilla, then topped with bubbles. Delish.
Above ground, Fontaine’s is a glam bar in Stoke Newington that still feels like an undiscovered gem. Gold palm trees and deep blue walls make this lush art deco spot the perfect location for a special date. Plus, their predominantly female bar team whip up a killer selection of cocktails, including their Brandy Alexander with Hennessy cognac, creme de cacao and cream. Pop downstairs to their Bamboo Lounge for drag and cabaret nights, like the bewitching Love Potion No. 9.
When it comes to sumptuous Soho drinking dens, Sarah loves how red and sexy the Arts Theatre Club on Frith St is, while Ruby recommends La Bodega Negra, which is easy to find with its cheeky neon sex shop signs on Old Compton St. Unfortunately, this entrance is only for their sumptuous restaurant, but around the corner, their cantina-style bar on Moor St has a breezy, vibrant charm and a solid selection of cocktails that will happily transport away from chilly London. Fellow mezcal fiends should try their Smokey Truth with cinnamon, lime, apple and chocolate bitters.
Sexy spas and saunas
One of my favourite sexy things to do in London with a partner is the Moroccan Rasul Ritual at Ironmonger Row spa. Imagine having your own private steam room for an hour, with a tonne of mud and a rainfall shower. It’s a lot of fun. The spa itself is lovely in a very understated and affordable way. If you’re looking for a super luxe, blow-the-budget, sexy AF day spa, then look no further than ESPA Life at Corinthia near Embankment.
For a different (and decidedly less glamorous) experience, Rio’s in Kentish Town is a naturist spa that attracts a relatively straight crowd, while gay bathhouses such as Chariots in Vauxhall, The Locker Room in Kennington and Pleasuredrome in Waterloo are exclusively for men. If you like your sauna with more of a cosy festival vibe and inclusive crowd, keep an eye out for the Lost Horizons parties.
Sexy parties
One of the naughty places to visit in London that’s on everyone’s lips now is Joyride: a fortnightly kink-friendly party that effortlessly mixes deviant dance floor action with a proper play space. Attracting quite a young and relatively queer-friendly crowd, it’s a little more relaxed than the latex catwalk that is Torture Garden. Wear your most dance-friendly fetishwear that’s easy to slide out of (and into).
Looking for more play parties? Check out my guide to polyamorous London.
If you’re leaning more towards sensual playtime than a sex club, Liquid Love is an afternoon soiree that involves a clothing-optional dress code and a whole load of warm olive oil. Meanwhile, the very new and exciting Pinky Promise launched its bi-monthly party in early 2020, with a range of delights including erotic storytelling, sexy life drawing and, of course, one amazing dance floor (all in a secret warehouse location).
Sexy fitness
If your idea of a hot date is working up a different kind of sweat, then London has some great active date ideas. Men can try a naked yoga class in Bare Yoga in Vauxhall or Yoganu in Covent Garden, while women are also welcome to Doria Yoga‘s classes in Clapham.
Want to get your endorphins really pumping? Try climbing. The Arch has big colourful climbing walls at all its three London venues. Not only is it fun and challenging, but according to Zane, it’s a great way to check out your partner’s form. Just don’t get so distracted that you lose your grip.
If you’re looking for something a little more low-key, try an epic walk. Hampstead Heath is the classic choice – not just for its rolling acres, shady spots and views from Parliament Hill but also because of its queer history (decades before the internet, it was the quintessential cruising ground). If you’d rather have a river walk, skip the South Bank and head for the River Lea in North London. You can wander up from Clapton to Tottenham Marshes, which are pleasingly empty on sunny days for you to do… well, whatever you please.
Sexy shops
With everything sexy available online these days, it’s increasingly hard to find actual shops that give you a thrill – but toy shopping can be such a stimulating thing to do with a partner. Sh! is one of London’s pioneering sex toy shops for women, and I really love their new-ish location (they moved around the corner from Hoxton Square in 2018). Not only do they offer lube, classes and toys (including a display case of vintage ones), but they make their own dildos in a workshop on-site. Yes, ladies!
For something a little more luxe, visit Coco De Mer‘s boutique in Covent Garden for a truly sensual experience. From filthy books to deliciously scented oils, this store is like a sexy curiosity shop for the senses. Join one of their salon sessions with erotic experts like the lovely Miss England to learn a new skill for the bedroom. Or just peruse their collection of silky lingerie.
Speaking of sexy knickers, one of my favourite sexy things to do in London is try on beautiful underwear at Agent Provocateur‘s Soho store. Seat your partner outside your dressing room, so you can reveal outfit after barely-there outfit. Once you’ve satisfied your exhibitionistic streak, pop next door to Basement Sate for dessert and cocktails.
Sexy events
The London edition of Naked Boys Reading (which sometimes includes naked queers, not just of the boyish variety too) is a bi-monthly literary salon for those who enjoy some really raw stories. Want to try drawing some body-positive life drawing? Body Love Sketch Club is about celebrating the beauty of all kinds of naked forms. Because what’s sexier than empowered confidence?
If you enjoy chatting about sex and relationships (or could do with a little guidance), then try one of the workshops and discussions run by Ruby Rare or the Candid Collective. Covering everything from clitoris model-making workshops to non-monogamy sharing circles, this is the most fun you’ve ever had learning something new.
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